Subarus have always been the choice of the discerning county set, the evidence being parked row on row at point-to-points, race courses, swish country shows, polo and rugger matches, and Subaru were also much appreciated in the past for their go-anywhere agricultural pickups.

Their image changed when they entered the world of rallying in 1982 but they got a reputation for unreliability until the UK’s Prodrive organisation took charge in 1990 to coincide with the launch of the new Legacy model.

A few World Championship wins followed but when the Impreza was introduced it proved to be a world beater in the hands of its greatest exponent, the late Colin McRae who was British Rally Champion in 1991 and then World Champion in 1995

World fame and sales followed and Subarus became the rally car to own both for serious competition drivers and sadly those who couldn’t drive but had enough money to be dangerous.
Then the political threat of greenhouse warming struck and the gas guzzling Impreza WRCs began to fall from grace, not helped by the lack-luster model change to the new, smaller Impreza shape. So, the company returned to its roots and the subdued quality image beloved of country folk of which the latest Outback is a perfect example.

Deliciously simple lines with minimum profile sculpting, it allows the Outback’s high cheek line to sweep up very gently backwards to a neat rump, helped by the tear drop widow line which follows suit and tapers gracefully rearwards.

The front has a pleasing feline look with what the Duke of Edinburgh called slanty eyes but any potential femininity is avoided by the butch, square sculpting of the bonnet.

The hint of ruggedness of this permanent 4x4 is also seen in the eased out and squared off wheel arches atop the beefy 17-inch alloy wheels, as well as useful roof rails.

When parked alongside my Aventis Tourer it highlighted just how much bigger the Outback is at 15.5 feet long, 6.3 feet wide and 5.2 feet high which gives it great presence and oodles of internal space. For example, the three rear seat passengers have tons of knee room even with my driver’s seat well back.

The boot is also a good size and big enough for two small hay bales or a decent seat for a picnic, and with the rear seats down even more bulky items are easily loaded.

The interior oozes class with quality leather, plastics and materials created by a crisp, understated design which gives the Outback’s a purposeful office. Two very clear dials for revs and speed face the driver in a neatly cowled binnacle with two smaller ones for fuel and, to satisfy the greens, a meter which shows how hard you are driving to try to stop you supping more fuel.

The Outback bristles with technology which imbues this class tourer with a dual personality in that if the driver and passengers want to luxuriate in the cocooned cabin, the dual climate control will sort the perfect atmosphere, the concert hall hi-fi will provide excellent entertainment and the driver can slip into cruise control while he and the front passengers can heat their nether regions via the heated seats.

But drop the passengers, strap in tight, let your horns grow, ensure a quiet road and let rip and the Outback becomes a fun car, though the clever computer handling aids ensure any excess of hooliganism is held within a safe dynamic envelope.

But to be frank, the whole ambiance of the Outback leads one to sink into its elegant sophistication in which one’s dress should be quality tweed or decent Armani and enjoy a relaxed style of driving which the Outback rewards in spades. For all its size the Outback is a joy to drive and in terms of off road performance, towing a horse box across a muddy field or attending a moor shoot is as good as any 4x4 who can find.

To help your pocket, the boxer flat four diesel is a frugal beast bearing in mind the Outback weighs 2.2 tons. It returns a combined consumption of over 44mpg from its healthy power at 150PS and even healthier 350Nm of torque which has the oomph for towing and off-roading, while being lively enough for spirited driving.

And that’s what I did and stirred the neat six-speed box to prove the Outback will get to the claimed 62mph in 9.7 seconds and believe me it did and felt a good deal faster because of the accompanying dreamy and distinctive growl coming out of the back with the window kept down.
Handling is crisp and accurate even when hustled because, unlike those Outbacks destined for the USA for which market it was designed, UK Outbacks are fitted with Bilstiens which give it a taught ride but with enough compliance to deal with Cumbria’s pot-holed roads.

With prices starting at £26,295 OTR and the timeless lines of the Outback it is the sort of vehicle one would buy to last as it enjoys trusty Japanese reliability and longevity as well as good residual prices which makes it a very wise choice for discerning owners.